ben kaye
@thebenkaye.bsky.social
what he’s typed will be a window into his madness | writes about movies, theatre | bylines: Cine-File, Chicago Reader, The Spool, Newcity Stage, possibly you????? | chicago-based (they/he)
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thebenkaye.com
https://benkayewords.org
https://boxd.it
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thebenkaye.com
https://benkayewords.org
https://boxd.it
Reposted by ben kaye
And after all that, the Pitt/Cruise AI fight scene appears to have been just digital BG and face replacement on multi-angle green screen reference videos of two real live human stuntees fighting.
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
February 19, 2026 at 1:18 AM
And after all that, the Pitt/Cruise AI fight scene appears to have been just digital BG and face replacement on multi-angle green screen reference videos of two real live human stuntees fighting.
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
a note for Chicago folk; @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social will be screening all of these throughout March!
SEX, GENDER, AND SEDUCTION: THE FILMS OF MONIKA TREUT 🩷 Coming to the Criterion Channel in March!
February 18, 2026 at 9:37 PM
a note for Chicago folk; @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social will be screening all of these throughout March!
probably a tie between THE WHALE and ORIGIN, if we're being honest.
fun question: what’s the maddest you’ve ever been leaving a movie theater? not necessarily worst movie you’ve seen, but the one that just pissed you off the most. mine is Batman v Superman
February 18, 2026 at 9:34 PM
probably a tie between THE WHALE and ORIGIN, if we're being honest.
Reposted by ben kaye
USHER IN A NEW ERA OF DEATH.
We’re thrilled to say that Muscle will be handling worldwide distribution on DIVINE HAMMER, the debut feature by the M. Sisters.
Screening in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle next month, with more dates to come soon. More info at:
www.divinehammermovie.com
We’re thrilled to say that Muscle will be handling worldwide distribution on DIVINE HAMMER, the debut feature by the M. Sisters.
Screening in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle next month, with more dates to come soon. More info at:
www.divinehammermovie.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:25 PM
USHER IN A NEW ERA OF DEATH.
We’re thrilled to say that Muscle will be handling worldwide distribution on DIVINE HAMMER, the debut feature by the M. Sisters.
Screening in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle next month, with more dates to come soon. More info at:
www.divinehammermovie.com
We’re thrilled to say that Muscle will be handling worldwide distribution on DIVINE HAMMER, the debut feature by the M. Sisters.
Screening in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle next month, with more dates to come soon. More info at:
www.divinehammermovie.com
Reposted by ben kaye
a lecture on Herman Melville, from Belfast, Maine (1999)
Herman Melville in "Belfast, Maine"
YouTube video by Sam Richardson
www.youtube.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
a lecture on Herman Melville, from Belfast, Maine (1999)
Reposted by ben kaye
"iS tHeRe a tEcHnoLoGY tHe leFt Is eXcItEd aBoUt" yeah, renewable energy, mRNA vaccines. Lots of cool stuff like that! Probably not the one whose main promise was cutting payrolls
February 18, 2026 at 2:42 PM
"iS tHeRe a tEcHnoLoGY tHe leFt Is eXcItEd aBoUt" yeah, renewable energy, mRNA vaccines. Lots of cool stuff like that! Probably not the one whose main promise was cutting payrolls
Reposted by ben kaye
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
February 18, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
Reposted by ben kaye
here is how you get into Wiseman
February 16, 2026 at 9:13 PM
here is how you get into Wiseman
Reposted by ben kaye
Frederick Wiseman - rare case where a 96-year-old filmmaker’s death feels tragic because they had so much more left to do. Uninterrupted streak of curiosity, empathy, wisdom, and quiet anger, ended only by the reality of living in a human body.
February 16, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Frederick Wiseman - rare case where a 96-year-old filmmaker’s death feels tragic because they had so much more left to do. Uninterrupted streak of curiosity, empathy, wisdom, and quiet anger, ended only by the reality of living in a human body.
the way that Frederick Wiseman seamlessly captured the modern world, you kind of thought he would live forever. though, as always with these things, because of his work, he will.
February 16, 2026 at 10:02 PM
the way that Frederick Wiseman seamlessly captured the modern world, you kind of thought he would live forever. though, as always with these things, because of his work, he will.
Reposted by ben kaye
I watched (and ranked) every single adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS I could get my hands on. www.vulture.com/article/the-...
The 32 Best (and Worst) Wuthering Heights Adaptations
Is there another novel that crosses borders and eras as smoothly as Emily Brontë’s 1847 classic does?
www.vulture.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I watched (and ranked) every single adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS I could get my hands on. www.vulture.com/article/the-...
Reposted by ben kaye
get the kid in the brown hoodie a scholarship
February 13, 2026 at 10:28 PM
get the kid in the brown hoodie a scholarship
on Amanda Kramer's BY DESIGN, for @cinefilechicago.bsky.social. now playing in Chicago at @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social.
February 13, 2026 at 9:51 PM
on Amanda Kramer's BY DESIGN, for @cinefilechicago.bsky.social. now playing in Chicago at @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social.
Reposted by ben kaye
I'll support nearly anyone over Newsom in the primary (he's better than Rahm Emanuel lol), less because he's awful (he is) and more because material conditions will probably propel ANY Dem to a '28 win. That's an opportunity to pick someone who will aggressively push for change. Which is not Newsom.
February 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I'll support nearly anyone over Newsom in the primary (he's better than Rahm Emanuel lol), less because he's awful (he is) and more because material conditions will probably propel ANY Dem to a '28 win. That's an opportunity to pick someone who will aggressively push for change. Which is not Newsom.
honestly if i just didn't watch any new films in 2026, this would be a fine enough top five. i'm okay with this.
February 12, 2026 at 7:18 PM
honestly if i just didn't watch any new films in 2026, this would be a fine enough top five. i'm okay with this.
Reposted by ben kaye
Chadwick Boseman and James van der Beek both died in their 40s of an illness that's treatable if a colonoscopy catches it but almost no insurer covers them for people under 45, this is what Engels meant by "social murder"
February 12, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Chadwick Boseman and James van der Beek both died in their 40s of an illness that's treatable if a colonoscopy catches it but almost no insurer covers them for people under 45, this is what Engels meant by "social murder"
amidst the horrors of the world, i am so excited to vote for Kat in my district this election. the tiniest spark of hope!
New — Justice Democrats and AIPAC's new competitor
@votepalpac.bsky.social jointly endorse Kat Abughazaleh in IL-9.
Abughazaleh: "This endorsement reflects…a growing movement of people who are done with a Democratic Party that has cast them aside in favor of profit, greed, and power."
@votepalpac.bsky.social jointly endorse Kat Abughazaleh in IL-9.
Abughazaleh: "This endorsement reflects…a growing movement of people who are done with a Democratic Party that has cast them aside in favor of profit, greed, and power."
February 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM
amidst the horrors of the world, i am so excited to vote for Kat in my district this election. the tiniest spark of hope!
the upcoming film HOW TO MAKE A KILLING, a pseudo-KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS remake, displays utter cowardice by not casting one actor to play all seven of the relatives at the center of the plot, discarding all traces of camp, style, and humor in the process. in this essay i will
February 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
the upcoming film HOW TO MAKE A KILLING, a pseudo-KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS remake, displays utter cowardice by not casting one actor to play all seven of the relatives at the center of the plot, discarding all traces of camp, style, and humor in the process. in this essay i will
Reposted by ben kaye
i truly believe that one of the main things that will bring down the fascists is that they are such gigantic losers. their message is literally “hey kids turn off the coolest guy in the world and come watch kid rock” like imagine being that corny and dumb!!! nobody wants it!!!
February 9, 2026 at 1:45 AM
i truly believe that one of the main things that will bring down the fascists is that they are such gigantic losers. their message is literally “hey kids turn off the coolest guy in the world and come watch kid rock” like imagine being that corny and dumb!!! nobody wants it!!!
Reposted by ben kaye
:guy who has only seen In the Heights: I’m getting In the Heights vibes from this
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 AM
:guy who has only seen In the Heights: I’m getting In the Heights vibes from this
Reposted by ben kaye
only about 20% of bsky users can see the words hidden in this image
February 7, 2026 at 8:51 PM
only about 20% of bsky users can see the words hidden in this image
Reposted by ben kaye
Embarrassing to see adults talk to robots in a public forum. That'd be like if your friend asked a mailbox for directions once. You'd roast him for decades for that shit. Every time the concept of navigating space came up you'd hit him with "Why don't you ask the mailbox?"
February 7, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Embarrassing to see adults talk to robots in a public forum. That'd be like if your friend asked a mailbox for directions once. You'd roast him for decades for that shit. Every time the concept of navigating space came up you'd hit him with "Why don't you ask the mailbox?"
Reposted by ben kaye
If you don’t cover culture, you’re not a newspaper.
The arts have been wiped off the Post's dropdown "Style" menu. 💔
February 6, 2026 at 10:52 PM
If you don’t cover culture, you’re not a newspaper.